Evaporative cooler and pad frame latch means therefor



Feb. 18, 1964 A. D. GOETTL ETAL 3,121,480

EVAPORATIVE COOLER AND P AD FRAME LATCH MEANS THEREFOR Original FiledDec 28, 1959 INVENTORS ADAM D. GOETTL AND BY JOHN GOETTL United StatesPatent This invention relates to a pad frame latch means for evaporativecoolers and more particularly to a latch means for evaporative coolerswhich functions to provide facility in the removal of pad frames fromevaporative coolers.

The present application is a division of our former application for anEvaporative Cooler and Pad Frame Latch Means Therefor, Serial No.862,396, filed December 28, 1959, now Patent No. 3,071,218.

Various devices have been used to retain evaporative cooler pad framesin position with respect to the main frame of an evaporative cooler,however, many of these devices are difficult to operate or require toolsfor the removal or replacement of pad frames with respect to the mainframe of an evaporative cooler.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a padframe latch means for evaporative coolers which is manually operablewithout the use of tools and which provides facility in the removal orreplacement of an evaporative cooler pad frame relative to the mainframe of an evaporative cooler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative coolers wherein a spring loaded latch member normallytends to hold a pad frame securely in position relative to the mainframe of an evaporative cooler whereby the latch may be actuated againstits spring loading to remove a pad frame from the main frame of theevaporative cooler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative coolers which provides manually movable detent action atthe upper corners of an evaporative cooler pad frame whereby the releaseof the latch means permits the upper edge of the evaporative cooler tobe pivoted outwardly about a fulcrum point on the main frame of theevaporative cooler, adjacent the lower edge of said pad frame, therebygreatly facilitating the installation or removal of an evaporativecooler pad frame from the main frame of an evaporative cooler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative coolers wherein a cooler pad frame is provided with afulcrum bearing near its lower edge which bears upon a portion of themain frame of an evaporative cooler thereby permitting the upper edge ofthe evaporative cooler pad frame to be pivotal relative to the mainframe and laterally thereof whereby, resiliently loaded latch meansengages the upper edge of the pad frame relative to the main frame ofthe evaporative cooler when pivoted into flush position with the sidethereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative cooler which generally facilitates and improves theinstallation and removal functions of pad frames relative to evaporativecooler main frames.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative coolers which is very simple and economical ofconstruction and which is very durable in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an evaporative cooler 3 Claims.

3,121,48h Patented Feb. 18, 1964 showing a pad frame latch means thereonand constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary sectional view taken from theline 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 33of FIG. 1 showing the latch means of the invention supported on a padframe member of an evaporative cooler; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 4-4 of FIG.3.

As shown in FIG. 1, an evaporative cooler 2i) is provided with a top pan22 and a sump pan 24. These pans 22 and 24 are interconnected by cornerframe members 26 thereby forming a main frame for the evaporativecooler. Removably positioned in the main frame of the evaporative coolerbetween the corner members 26 and forming sides of the evaporativecooler are evaporative cooler pad frames 28. The pad frames at theirupper, lower and side edges are surrounded by the top pan 20, cornerframe member 26 and the sump pan 24, respectively. These pad frames 28are provided with air inlet louvers 30 and inwardly thereof, each padframe supports a fibrous evaporative cooler pad which is generallyoperated in wet condition whereby air passing through the louvers 30evaporates moisture in the fibrous material of the pad and the air isthus cooled for delivery to a dwelling.

The normally lower edges 32 of the pad frames 28 are provided with ledgebearing portions 34, as shown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Theseledge bearing portions 34 are arcuate in cross section and rest upon afulcrum edge 36 which is actually the upper edge of the pan 24. Thus,the pad frames 28 are pivotally mounted on the upper edge 36 of the pan24 and may be pivoted outwardly in the direction of the arrow A whenreleased by the pad frame latch means of the invention.

In the modification as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the padframe 2 8 is provided with a slot 108 in its front side 54, and movablymounted in this slot is a latch lever 110 provided with an angularlyoffset portion 112 which engages an inwardly directed edge 1.14 of thecorner frame member 26 similar to that hereinbefore described. Anangular surface L16 of the angularly offset portion 112 is so arrangedthat it provides a cammin-g action at the edge 114- when normalresilience of the latch lever tends to force it in a direction of thearrow L, shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. This latch lever, at itsangular portion 112, projects through an opening 113 in a side wall ofthe pad frame 28.

The latch lever extends backwardly to the: rear of the frame 28 and isintegral with a torsion bar portion .12 which extends downwardlytherefrom along the back of the frame and is provided with an inwardlyextending portion 122 which is anchored at its end 124 in a slat 126 inthe side wall of the cooler pad frame 28.

The latch lever 110- at its outer end is provided with a loop 128 whichserves as a handle for actuation thereof.

In operation, the latch lever 128 is manually shifted rom the solid lineposition to a broken line position M which moves the angular latchportion 112 out of interference with the edge portion 114 of the cornerframe member 26 thereby permitting pivotal removal of the pad frame 28outwardly in the direction of the arrow A, as shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings.

The torsion bar spring portion of the latch lever 1:10 always tends tomaintain the latch lever 128 in the solid line position wherein theangular latch portion 112 at its angular cam surf-ace L16 engages theedge 114 of the corner frame member 26.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a mannerlimited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

We claim:

1. in a pad frame latch means for evaporative coolers the combinationof: an evaporative cooler main frame having a pad frame latch portion;an evaporative cooler pad frame supported therein; a latch lever securedin said evaporative cooler pad frame; spring means tending to hold saidlatch lever in one direction; a latch portion of said latch levernormally projecting from said cooler pad frame and engaging said latchportion of said main frame; said latch lever manually movable to deflectsaid latch portions thereof away from said latch portion of said mainframe to permit removal of said pad frame relative thereto; said springmeans being an integral torsion bar portion of said latch lever; upper,lower and side edges of said pad frame surrounded by said main frame,thereby normally obstructing manual access to the inner side of said padframe; said pad frame having an opening in its outer sides; a handleportion of said latch lever operable through said opening and forming ahandle for manual operation of said latch lever from the outer side ofsaid pad frame.

2. In a pad frame latch means for evaporative coolers the combinationof: an evaporative cooler main frame provided with corner members, eachhaving a latch portion; an evaporative cooler pad frame adjacentthereto; a latch lever secured in each evaporative cooler pad frame;spring means of said latch lever tending to hold it in one direction; alatch portion of said latch lever normally projecting from said coolerpad frame in said one direction and engaging said latch portion of arespective corner frame member; said latch lever manually movable todeflect said latch portion thereof away from said latch portion of saidrespective corner frame member to permit removal of said pad framerelative thereto; said spring means being an integral torsion barportion of said latch lever; upper, lower and side edges of said padframe surrounded by said main frame, thereby normally obstructing manualaccess to the inner side of said pad frame; said pad frame having anopening in its outer sides; a handle of said latch lever operablethrough said opening and fonming a handle for manual operation of saidlatch lever from the outer sides of said pad frame.

3. In a pad frame latch means for evaporative coolers the combinationof: an evaporative cooler main frame provided with corner frame members,each having a latch portion; an evaporative cooler pad frame adjacentthereto; a latch lever secured in said evaporative cooler pad frame;said latch lever provided with spring means tending to hold it in onedirection; a latch portion of said latch lever normally projecting fromsaid cooler pad frame to the outer side theerof and in one direction andengaging a latch 'portion of said corner frame member; said latch levermanually movable to deflect the latch portion thereof away from saidlatch portion of said corner frame member to permit removal of said padframe relative thereto; upper, lower and side edges of said pad framesurrounded by said main frame, thereby normally obstructing manualaccess to the inner side of said pad frame; said pad frame having anopening in its outer side; a handle of said latch lever projecting andoperable through said opening and forming a handle for manual operationof said latch lever from the outer side of said pad frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,289,214 Schultz July 7, 1942 2,497,453 Hazen Feb. 14, 1950 2,560,506Despard July 10, 1951 2,610,893 Collins Sept. 16, 1952 2,637,540 RoweMay 5, 1953 2,856,166 Goettl Oct. 14, 1958

1. IN A PAD FRAME LATCH MEANS FOR EVAPORATIVE COOLERS THE COMBINATIONOF: AN EVAPORATIVE COOLER MAIN FRAME HAVING A PAD FRAME LATCH PORTION;AN EVAPORATIVE COOLER PAD FRAME SUPPORTED THEREIN; A LATCH LEVER SECUREDIN SAID EVAPORATIVE COOLER PAD FRAME; SPRING MEANS TENDING TO HOLD SAIDLATCH LEVER IN ONE DIRECTION; A LATCH PORTION OF SAID LATCH LEVERNORMALLY PROJECTING FROM SAID COOLER PAD FRAME AND ENGAGING SAID LATCHPORTION OF SAID MAIN FRAME; SAID LATCH LEVER MANUALLY MOVABLE TO DEFLECTSAID LATCH PORTIONS THEREOF AWAY FROM SAID LATCH PORTION OF SAID MAINFRAME TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF SAID PAD FRAME RELATIVE THERETO; SAID SPRINGMEANS BEING AN INTEGRAL TORSION BAR PORTION OF SAID LATCH LEVER; UPPER,LOWER AND SIDE EDGES OF SAID PAD FRAME SURROUNDED BY SAID MAINE FRAME,THEREBY NORMALLY OBSTRUCTING MANUAL ACCESS TO THE INNER SIDE OF